The annual Climate of the Nation survey, shared with Energy News, samples just under 2000 Australians over the age of 18 on a wider range of topics including the energy transition, climate change and their perceptions of industry. 

The report said Australians were more acutely aware of the impacts of climate change following last summer's bushfires, with 80% of respondents believe Australia is already experiencing the impact of climate change. 

The report said 59% of respondents would prefer the Australian government to invest in renewable energy to power the post-COVID economic recovery, with only 12% preferring the investment go to gas. 

Meanwhile 11% preferred neither gas nor renewables, and 18% didn't know. 

Solar is consistently Australia's most preferred energy source, with 54% ranking it as number one, and 79% ranking it in the top three amongst wind and hydropower. 

Three-quarters of respondents agreed the federal government needed to plan for the orderly closure of old coal power stations and their replacement with clean energy, up five percentage points compared to last year's results. 

"There is one clear message most Australians want more renewables and less fossil fuels," TAI climate and energy director Richie Merzian said.

"That means phase out coal fired power stations, bypass a gas-fired transition and plug into renewables to power their future."

When asked about the blame for rising electricity prices, 53% pointed the finger at the privatisation of electricity generation and supply; 39% cited a lack of clear federal policy and 36% said excessive gas exports had made domgas prices expensive. 

The survey studied Australians perception of the gas industry, noting most people overestimated the gas industry employment by a factor of 40. 

Citing ABS data for the year to May 2020, the average figure for oil and gas extraction employment was around 28,000.  

The report also said Australians believed the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax contributed 10.8% to the Commonwealth budget for the 2018-19 year, when in reality it contributed 0.2% - A$1.15 billion of the total $485 billion. 

In the latest budget, PRRT receipts are forecast to grow by 3.1% in 2018-19 and 21.7% in 2019-20. 

However since the 2018-19 MYEFO, receipts are expected to be $200 million lower in 2018-19, $100 million lower in 2019-20 and $450 million lower over the four years to 2022-23, consistent with weaker-than-expected collections.

Most respondents views lined up with the reality that most of the gas used in Australia is exported overseas and that gas extraction had increased in Australia over the last decade. 

Around 61% of the respondents believed CSG and shale gas development had a negative effect on water resources, farmers and increasing emissions, however 42% believed it had a positive effect on the economy and local jobs. 

However the report cites a CSIRO survey of local communities affected by CSG development, noting a deterioration in financial capital, infrastructure, local skills and social cohesion. 

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association disputed the report telling Energy News the average value added per industry employee was A$1.7 million per employee.

APPEA chief Andrew McConville said the industry had paid over $5.8 billion in total tax payments in 2017-18.  

He also referred Energy News to TAI staff's previous affiliations with The Greens. 

Santos has been touting the jobs and social development benefits its Narrabri CSG development will bring to rural NSW which was recently approved by the Independent Planning Commission. 

A report from Lawrence Consulting found the gas industry in the state had spent almost $50 billion buying locally and investing in infrastructure and payment to local government, and Santos has spent $14 million so far on community development and infrastructure projects in Narrabri, according to Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher.